Sales Customer Service

PAUL BOWEN

**** ***** ***** ***** ( Rogers, Arkansas 72756

479-***-**** ( *********@*********.***

Market/Product Development, Plant Support and Customer technical service

Top-performing visionary with the dual capacity to manage both technical

and business functions, fueling multi-million dollar revenue growth and

overhead reductions for international manufacturers. In-depth experience in

resin development and final conversion in numerous applications, including

blown and cast film, profile extrusion, injection and blow molding,

rotational molding, and thermoforming. Orchestrated product development,

improvement, and launch, strengthening company's market position. Strong

communicator proficient in understanding and meeting client needs.

Optimized products and operations in collaboration with key customers and

internal personnel.

. Contributed to the average >20% company growth amid the lower gains

realized by competitors.

Product Development ( Cost Reduction ( Sustainability ( Process Improvement

( Problem Resolution

Innovation ( Market Development ( ASTM ( ISO ( Lean Six Sigma ( Quality

Assurance ( Regulatory Standards

Research and Development ( Market Launch ( Vendor Management ( Staff

Management ( International Sales

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

FLEXSOLUTIONS, LLC, Rogers, Arkansas ( 2008-Present

Consultants to the plastics industry providing research and product

development support, process improvements, capital projects, quality and

regulatory audits.

Advanced Environmental Recycling Technology, Springdale, Arkansas ( 2003-

2008

$110M company producing ChoiceDek & MoistureShield composite decking,

railing, fencing, and house trim.

Technical Director

Performed comprehensive operations management of a lab established to

approve the quality of incoming plastic raw materials, from selection to

qualification of polymers, additives and colorants. Instituted new tools

for monitoring quality and production performance characteristics.

Procured vendors able to deliver consistently high quality materials and

equipment. Led Research and Development functions, particularly product and

process innovation. Complied with the International building Code (ICC)

product standards. Managed up to 5 direct reports as well as 16 technicians

in Quality Assurance and R&D roles.

Operational Achievements:

. Performed competitive product analysis, distributing the results to the

sales team as a key tool to promote product benefits. Tracked industry

trends and possible performance problems.

. Pioneered a color mixing and streaking system, increasing the similarity

of the final product to exotic hardwoods and boosting its pricing more

than 30%

. Spearheaded the design, equipment installation, and staffing of a new

corporate laboratory to meet ICC testing and R&D project work guidelines

ahead of schedule and under budget

. Eliminated the need for 3 human inspectors per shift while facilitating

the 100% inspection of every product through the introduction of online

color and dimensional monitoring systems saving over $250K in labor costs

. Met regularly with customer marketing teams, sales staff, and leading

deck builders to relay data on product improvements and to gain feedback

on current field input.

Financial Achievements:

. Captured $2.2MM in annual savings on poly scrap through the installation

of proprietary processing and blending equipment for incoming raw

materials.

. Fueled cost reductions of $1.1MM by using a new surface finishing

process, eradicating the need for high-cost milling and scrap handling.

Resulting product cost dropped >8 cents per foot.

PAUL BOWEN ( Page 2 ( *********@*********.***

Atlantis Plastics, Tulsa, Oklahoma ( 1998-2002

$300MM producer of stretch and custom film products for industrial and

consumer packaging.

Technical Director

Executed product and process development projects at 4 plant locations.

Managed 4-6 direct reports and 6-12 QA and R&D technicians. Met with

internal plant and sales staff and vendors to monitor daily operations and

resolve issues with raw materials and supplies. Reviewed product

performance quarterly with each major vendor, detailing any requested

improvements or new products. Briefed sales teams on updated product

improvements during quarterly sessions. Collaborated with key clients to

create films for specific applications and new packaging requirements.

Monitored and resolved customer complaints. Assessed performance and

generated reports on all new resins and additives as well as product

development runs. Tasked with sourcing, acquiring and proving the value of

all new resins and color concentrates.

Operational/Financial Achievements:

. Drove $5MM+ in annual resin cost savings through performance based resin

selection using LL product knowledge.

. Conducted market launches of 5 new resins, 2 new 5-layer stretch films,

and 3 improved 3-layer stretch films. Increasing sales by over 10% in

first year.

. Yielded 50MM+ pounds in expanded annual capacity by installing new and

modifying existing equipment.

. Increased gauge control by using improved screws, dies, bubble cages and

resins to deliver 0.5 mil blown stretch films at >30 pounds per inch of

die, surpassing past standard of 22 pounds per inch of die.

. Lowered returns of tear-offs during pre-stretch by 50% with measurable

edge cut quality improvements and eliminating the source of large gels,

saving more than $50K annually.

Equistar Chemical, Cincinnati, Ohio ( 1988-1998

Major producer of Polyethylene with $4.4B in sales throughout Western

Hemisphere.

Principal Engineer

Supported Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) and Linear Low Density

Polyethylene (LLDPE) film resin sales for North and South America. Acted as

the only technical service representative for international sales, of the

complete product line encompassing film, extrusion coating, blow and

injection molding, rotational molding, and thermoforming. Identified client

needs, propelling the value of commercial projects. Elevated the

performance of polymers from the basic chemical structure and rheology to

additives and compounding conditions.

. Doubled the purchases of 6 key accounts in 3 years through high-caliber

sales support and personal technical customer service.

. Escalated sales volume by 200MM+ pounds by formulating and marketing 6

value-added film and foam profile resins.

. Drove sales growth in the Latin American and South American regions by

300% in 5 years.

. Recouped $750K in annual overhead and improved product color by obtaining

the equipment needed for the delivery of neat talc, cementing the

company's position as the low-cost manufacturer of LLDPE film grades.

. Established and participated in taste and odor testing panels serving

major food packaging companies nationwide.

Mobil Chemical Company, Beaumont Texas ( 1981-1988

Integrated producer of Polyethylene and consumer products with 2.3 billion

pounds of resin capacity in North America and Saudi Arabia.

Market Development Engineer 1981-1983

Supported sales in defining product needs for domestic growth markets,

identifying customer needs and translating them into higher value

products achieving a sold out position within eighteen months.

. Provided market analysis and business plans achieving annual sales of

over 700 MM pounds film resins. Surveyed market, identified growth

segments, developed improved formulations, and performed field trials

insuring success.

. Introduced pelletized LLDPE with improved form and better stabilization

for the first time in U.S. markets.

. Introduced target accounts to our new products and made improvements

gaining acceptance as preferred supplier with a sold-out position in

eighteen months.

. Introduced fractional melt LDPE achieving improved netback of over

$500,000 annually.

PAUL BOWEN ( Page 3 ( *********@*********.***

Mobil Chemical Company (continued)

Technical Service Manager 1983 - 1988

Promoted to design, equip, staff and manage a world class customer

technical service facility including field and internal support for blown

and cast film, injection, blow, and rotational molding for over 600

customers in the western hemisphere.

. Implemented additive cost reductions saving more than $400,000 annually.

. Developed and commercialized specialty LLDPE grades generating netbacks

averaging 500% higher than the products replaced.

. Introduced Mobil to extrusion tailoring leading to first successful

Unipol HDPE blow molding resins.

. Introduced controlled shrinkage LLDPE permitting quick domination of

traditional LDPE Lid injection molding market.

. Created a polymer-training program, which Mobil requested to be provided

to worldwide sales and technical service personnel. Program was later

adapted for training key production personnel.

. Reduced departmental operating expense more than 50% through cross

training, scheduling, and computerization.

Other Significant Experience:

Molding Specialist & Group Leader Testing - Introduced first US gas phase

PP molding resins.

. Successfully scaled up pilot plant to commercial products by working

closely with customers and production personnel to eliminate concerns

identified in field trials and joint development programs.

. Developed and commercialized high impact controlled rheology copolymers

opening new markets in automotive applications for PP resins.

. Developed stabilization system achieving the highest UL temperature

rating for any PP resin.

. Performed field evaluations leading to catalyst improvements eventually

licensed back to BASF who had developed the gas phase PP technology.

Senior Research Scientist - Conceived, developed, and commercialized

projects targeting the replacement of paper and metal components with

plastics. Gained hands on experience with injection molding, blow

molding, rotational molding and thermoforming.

. Designed, molds and commissioned equipment for 15 to 55 gallon plastic

drums, and 14 " to 23" diameter plastic covers, both projects resulted in

greater than 25% ROI.

. Developed and patented a container for the shipment of expandable

polystyrene resins.

. Instituted a strict statistical program to evaluate process

modifications, design changes, and resin specifications.

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering

New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico

AFFILIATIONS/PATENTS

Society of Plastic Engineers ( American Institute of Chemical Engineers (

ASTM

Board Member, SPE Extrusion Division (6 years) ( Co-Chair, SPE Processers

Conference (3 years)

SPE Thermoplastics and Foams Division ( SPE Color and Appearance Division

Patent: "Soft, Tear and Impact Resistant Polypropylene Film Resin"

(Disposables Market)

Patent: "Horizontal Heat-Seal Liner for Fiber Drums" (Liquid Shipping

Containers)

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